Skirt-supporter



(No Model.)

J. M. BREWER & BQN. SMITH.

SKIRT SUPPORTER.-

I No. 497,516. Patented May 16,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. BREWER AND BURKE N. SMITH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SKIRT-ISUPPORII'ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,516, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed November 7, 1892. Serial No. 451,180- (No model.)

To a whom it may conoern:

Be it known that we, JOHN M. BREWER and BURKE N. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of lVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Skirt-Supporters; and

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a garment supporter, the same being more particularly adapted and designed as a skirt'holder.

It consists of the devices and appliances,

their construction, combination and arrangement as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows our invention applied to a dress skirt. showing the jaws of the clasp open. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the jaws of the clasp closed. Fig. i is a rear elevation showing the shield in position to close the jaws of the clasp. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of certain features of our invention. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line ;rx Fig. 2.

With the prevailing styles of dress, especially, it is desirable to support the skirt to lift it from the ground.

Our invention is designed to provide a neat and tasteful supporting device to be attached to a dress for the accomplishment of this purpose.

We carry out our invention as follows:

A denotes a supporting loop, preferably formed with a V-shaped extension a, constructed and arranged for the insertion of a fold of the skirt thereinto, the fold being drawn downward in to said extension in a well known manner. This loop A is formed of a single integral piece of wire having spring arms A, A preferably at the sides of the V- shaped extension a. As shown in the drawings said arms are turned laterally at the lower end of the loop into ornamental form, but we do not limit ourselves thereto.

B denotes a clasp to engage the upper portion of the skirt and supporting the loop A,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section said loop having a jointed engagement therewith. I This clasp B, as shown, is formed with clamping arms B and B formed in a single integral piece preferably of sheet metal, bent intermediate its ends to form aneye b, said eye encircling the upper portion of the loop A. The arms B and B are preferably made with expanded jaws b' and b the arms being cut awaybelow saidjaws to form shanks 12 of limited width. The jaw b is preferably extended above the oppositejaw and turned over to form a laterally and down wardly projecting lip b Theother jaw is formed with an inwardly turned flange b opening and closing past the lower edge of p the lip 17*, at right angles thereto.

We prefer to form the loop -A of a single piece of wire bent intermediate its extremities, to form a V- shaped extension a, said extremities being brought together or adjacent one to the other at the upper end of the loop. Instead of fastening said ends the one to the other,'as by soldering or welding, we prefer to upset or bend over a portion of the metal on each end to form flanges 0/ and a abutting against each other when in normal position. The shanks 11 are cut away to form an opening or slot b in the eye b. The eye is thus in reality constructed of two adjacent loops b and 12 The manner of bringing the adjacent ends of the loop A together thus allows of the flanges a', at being spread apart to enter the loops b b between said flanges and over the adjacent ends of the loop A, the flangesv a, a being projected downward through the slot b between the loops b 19 as shown. It will be seen that while thus the loop A has a jointed engagement in the clasp B,-said clasp is prevented slipping laterally upon said loop, while also the two arms of the loop A are effectually prevented from spreading when in engagement with the loop in an undue manner, and there will be no liability of the clasp becoming disengaged from said loop. The formation of the flanges a, a upon the ends of the loop A forms a very simple and ready means of attaching and securing the clasp B therewith.

Another feature of our invention relates to the means for opening and. closing the jaws of said clasp. To this end 0 represents a slide movably engaged upon said shanks, whereby the jaws are closed and opened as the slide is moved upward and downward thereupon.

C represents a shield engaged with said slide and bearing upon one shank or arm of the clasp. \Ve prefer to make the slide and shield of two separate parts united in any suitable manner, as by rivets c. The slide is preferably made therefore with an upright arm 0' and a horizontal arm 0 the upr ght arm 0' being riveted to the shield. lhe sltde is formed with an orifice at 0 preferably extending from toward the front edge of the horizontal arm rearward to the shield, and downward toward the base of the upright arm, lateral flanges c being formed to engage against the edge of the shank adacent to the shield. The horizontal portion of the slide bears upon one arm of the clasp and with its recess embraces both the shanks of the clasp and gives plenty of room for the operation of the slide. Moreover this horizontal portion of the arm with its loop encircling the shanks is preferably carried upward on the shield toward the middle thereof, as shown, so that both the upper and lower edges of the shield will have a bearing against the adjacent arm.

The shield as shown is preferably constructed with a marginal inwardly turned flange, at 0 forming an intermediate depressed or countersunk portion, in which is engaged the upright arm of the slide. This construction gives compactness and firmness to the device. The upper and lower edges of the shield have a bearing upon the adjacent arm of the clasp at each side and distant from the horizontal arm 0 gives a firmer leverage or frictional contact to hold the slide in a given position. Moreover as shown in Fig.

2, it will be seen, that the lower end of the shield may be drawn past the eye b of the clasp, and away from engagement with the arm of the clasp, thereby permitting the fuller opening of the jaws of the clasp. The loop or orifice in the horizontal arm of the slide opening rearward to the shield, together with the form of the shield, permits the eye and the adjacent end of the loop A, when the shield is in the position shown in Fig. 2, being pressed into the countersunk portion of the shield inside the plane of the outer edges of said flanges, thus also facilitating the freer opening of the jaws of the clasp. The orifice a in the horizontal arm of the slide, it will be seen, is of sufficient size to permit the eye 1) being inserted therethrough before the engagement of the eye with the loop A. It is thus found of considerable advantage to locate the loop of the slide toward the middle of the shield.

that we claim as our invention is- 1. A skirt supporter comprising a clasp and a loop jointedly secured together, and a slide formed with a vertical and a horizontal portion, each portion being provided with a continuous slot, and a concave shield secured to the slide, the lower edge of which is adapted to pass below thejoint between the clasp and the loop whereby the joint may enter the slot in the vertical portion of the slide, substantially as set forth.

2. A skirt supporter consisting of a clasp B formed with clamping arms B',B folded intermediate their extremities to form an eye 1) at one end of the clasp, and jaws 11', 21 at the opposite end, a slide 0 located upon said arms to open and close saidjaws and formed with a shield C, and a loopA flexibly supported in said eye 1), the slide G constructed with a slotted horizontal arm encircling said clamping arms, said shield C constructed with an inwardly turned marginal flange, said horizontal arm projecting from the shield toward the center thereof, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. BREWVER. BURKE N. SMITH. Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, JoHN F. MILLER. 

